[mdt73]

Hi Guys,

I'm going to build my own HTPC using the bare bones Zotac HD ION based system. I'm a complete novice. Is the kit below a good set up and have I missed anything, connecting cables etc?

I will probably go for xbmc Live or openelec.tv and dharma 3.

Zotac HD
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/227260

Hard Drive SSD
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160730

RAM
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/119195

Have I missed anything and will the components work with each other. I.E is it the correct type of RAM?

Thanks,
M

[fattyl]

The RAM looks fine but that box isn't ION based so I'm not sure if it supports hardware acceleration in Live/Linux or in Windows. I could be wrong though.

[mdt73]

Oh. The description says "nVidia 'Next Gen' ION Based Motherboard"

Should I be looking at something else?

[Eelco]

fattyl is right, for XBMC to support HW accelleration, pick the ID11. Can't find it on ebuyer, but here's the Zotac site link.

[mdt73]

OK. I've found it here: http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.as...id=gsearch

And they build it for you. They use a diffrent SSD:

30GB Kingston SSDNow V-Series SATA 2.5" - Upgrade Kit
SATA II / Read: up to 180 MB/sec / Write: up to 50 MB/sec / with Bundled Desktop Upgrade Kit

And I read that it wasn't very good. What do you guys think?

[prae5]

Oh. The description says "nVidia 'Next Gen' ION Based Motherboard"

Should I be looking at something else?

Thats not the ion version

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/227258
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/227257

[mdt73]

Thanks Guys.

I still haven't sorted the indexing issue Prae5. But I'm using Ember Media Manager to manage my movies and will have completed it tonight.

I will then see if I can get them into xbmc.

[Flomaster]

Zotac ZBOX Atom D510 Intel GMA HD Graphics Barebone - DDR2 RAM HDMI / DVI Out Wi-Fi

Intel GMA HD = DO NOT WANT.....

that is NOT the preferred zotac Box

this box is Next Gen ion not the one you linked in the first post
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product
-=Jason=-

[mdt73]

Am I missing something guys? The 2nd one I linked is the HD-ID11 is it not?

This is the spec:

Model: ZBOX HD-ID11;
Chipset:
Manufacturer: NVIDIA® Next-Generation ION™ (w/512MB DDR3);
GPU: ION™;
CPU Compatibility:
Name:
Intel® Atom™ D510 (dual-core) (1.66 GHz),
Intel® HyperThreading™ technology,

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.as...id=gsearch

And is the Kingston SSD below and good or should I look for another? What would you recommend?

30GB Kingston SSDNow V-Series SATA 2.5" - Upgrade Kit
SATA II / Read: up to 180 MB/sec / Write: up to 50 MB/sec / with Bundled Desktop Upgrade Kit

[fattyl]

Am I missing something guys? The 2nd one I linked is the HD-ID11 is it not?

This is the spec:

Model: ZBOX HD-ID11;
Chipset:
Manufacturer: NVIDIA® Next-Generation ION™ (w/512MB DDR3);
GPU: ION™;
CPU Compatibility:
Name:
Intel® Atom™ D510 (dual-core) (1.66 GHz),
Intel® HyperThreading™ technology,

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.as...id=gsearch

And is the Kingston SSD below and good or should I look for another? What would you recommend?

30GB Kingston SSDNow V-Series SATA 2.5" - Upgrade Kit
SATA II / Read: up to 180 MB/sec / Write: up to 50 MB/sec / with Bundled Desktop Upgrade Kit

The worst possible SSD will still be perfectly fine for XBMC.

[Ruski]

Hey,

Maybe consider waiting a few weeks, Zotac just released an upgraded version of their Zbox.

ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID40 - Its supposed to retail for under $300, if some of the articles i read are true. Its also basically an upgraded version of the HD-ID11 for a very similar price.

Other than that, i am looking to create a very similar setup...leaning towards:

ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID40
2x2GB G.Skill RAM F2-6400CL5D-4GBSQ
40GB Intel X25-V SSD

Haven't found the HD-ID40 on sale anywhere yet thought hehe...

[ProphetVX]

Hey,

Maybe consider waiting a few weeks, Zotac just released an upgraded version of their Zbox.

ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID40 - Its supposed to retail for under $300, if some of the articles i read are true. Its also basically an upgraded version of the HD-ID11 for a very similar price.

Other than that, i am looking to create a very similar setup...leaning towards:

ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID40
2x2GB G.Skill RAM F2-6400CL5D-4GBSQ
40GB Intel X25-V SSD

Haven't found the HD-ID40 on sale anywhere yet thought hehe...

What software will you be running on it?
4gb is more than likely overkill if you've only got a 40gb hdd, I'm assuming it's going to be just a dedicated htpc? Even if you run sabnzbd, transmission, couchpotato, sickbeard and a few other tools, you're unlikely to max out 2gb.

[Ruski]

What software will you be running on it?
4gb is more than likely overkill if you've only got a 40gb hdd, I'm assuming it's going to be just a dedicated htpc? Even if you run sabnzbd, transmission, couchpotato, sickbeard and a few other tools, you're unlikely to max out 2gb.

you are right, 4GB is definitely overkill haha! I got the kit on sale for ~$60CAD and a decent 2GB kit is $50, so figured what the hell.

So far, i am pretty new to the XBMC scene, so the early plan is to:

Windows 7 x64 w/XBMC setup (also considering Ubuntu/XBMC Live...)

I have just been gathering info on all the great addon/plugins for XBMC, so i got a feeling i will be adding a lot of them

Open to any suggestions/favorites ppl have around here...i am big on sports: hockey/soccer/football. Also HBO shows, etc.

[poofyhairguy]

The worst possible SSD will still be perfectly fine for XBMC.

Agreed. Just get the cheapest one you can.